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Wildcard string compare (globbing)

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4.90/5 (82 votes)
15 Feb 2005 1.1M   96   144
Matches a string against a wildcard string such as "*.*" or "bl?h.*" etc. This is good for file globbing or to match hostmasks.

Usage:

This is a fast, lightweight, and simple pattern matching function.

if (wildcmp("bl?h.*", "blah.jpg")) {
  //we have a match!
} else {
  //no match =(
}

Function:

int wildcmp(const char *wild, const char *string) {
  // Written by Jack Handy - <A href="mailto:jakkhandy@hotmail.com">jakkhandy@hotmail.com</A>
  const char *cp = NULL, *mp = NULL;

  while ((*string) && (*wild != '*')) {
    if ((*wild != *string) && (*wild != '?')) {
      return 0;
    }
    wild++;
    string++;
  }

  while (*string) {
    if (*wild == '*') {
      if (!*++wild) {
        return 1;
      }
      mp = wild;
      cp = string+1;
    } else if ((*wild == *string) || (*wild == '?')) {
      wild++;
      string++;
    } else {
      wild = mp;
      string = cp++;
    }
  }

  while (*wild == '*') {
    wild++;
  }
  return !*wild;
}

License

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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
22-Mar-02 15:29
suss22-Mar-02 15:29 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Simon Capewell22-May-02 2:48
Simon Capewell22-May-02 2:48 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Targys8-Jan-03 1:57
Targys8-Jan-03 1:57 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
The C++ Guru24-Feb-03 10:43
sussThe C++ Guru24-Feb-03 10:43 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Jack Handy24-Feb-03 16:52
Jack Handy24-Feb-03 16:52 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
hector santos1-Mar-03 1:49
hector santos1-Mar-03 1:49 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Kent C. Dorner2-Mar-03 5:26
sussKent C. Dorner2-Mar-03 5:26 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
hector santos2-Mar-03 10:05
hector santos2-Mar-03 10:05 
Personally, I agree. I believe Jack's code is more readible. I tend to look for look for logic that looks for recursion.

Correct, both codes do not check for nulls.

[SIDE NOTE] I've been involved in hundreds of corporate development projects. I lead many of them before eventually leaving to start my own company. IMO, it depends on the "large team" make up. If you include non-trained (no where else to put them) programmers in the loop, sure, its harder for them to read code. But then again, they shouldn't be part of the "tools development" group. They are usually not expected to have input in the matter. However, I would suggest that they would be the first to find the bug by accidently introducing NULLs. Smile | :)

In general, tools are usually designed by trained computer scientist. Applications development uses them. Nonetheless, in the new world of IDEs and Component Engineering, many of these disciplines are merged (good or bad) even to the extend that you don't need an "official education" (whatever that means) in computer coding techniques.



Hector Santos, CTO
Santronics Software, Inc.
http://www.santronics.com
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Jack Handy2-Jun-03 13:56
Jack Handy2-Jun-03 13:56 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Anonymous2-Jun-03 14:48
Anonymous2-Jun-03 14:48 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
Anonymous4-Dec-03 18:29
Anonymous4-Dec-03 18:29 
GeneralRe: too complicated Pin
olegxxx4-Mar-05 19:24
olegxxx4-Mar-05 19:24 
GeneralSweet! Pin
EpicBoy1-Feb-02 16:08
EpicBoy1-Feb-02 16:08 
GeneralRe: Sweet! Pin
Michael Dunn1-Feb-02 17:10
sitebuilderMichael Dunn1-Feb-02 17:10 
GeneralRe: Sweet! Pin
13-May-02 0:29
suss13-May-02 0:29 
GeneralI found this very useful. Pin
Todd Smith4-Jan-02 14:40
Todd Smith4-Jan-02 14:40 
GeneralTest Cases Pin
Paul McGuire4-Dec-01 12:00
Paul McGuire4-Dec-01 12:00 
GeneralRe: Test Cases Pin
Lee Elenbaas9-Sep-08 23:05
Lee Elenbaas9-Sep-08 23:05 
GeneralSuper fast code - super, but... Pin
23-Aug-01 6:24
suss23-Aug-01 6:24 
GeneralGreat Code Pin
4-Jul-01 20:18
suss4-Jul-01 20:18 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
5-Jul-01 10:24
suss5-Jul-01 10:24 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
4-Jul-02 2:15
suss4-Jul-02 2:15 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
The C++ Guru8-Sep-02 7:22
sussThe C++ Guru8-Sep-02 7:22 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
Anonymous4-Dec-03 18:53
Anonymous4-Dec-03 18:53 
Generalwildcmp("fold","??*"); Pin
24-May-01 8:43
suss24-May-01 8:43 

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